Solenoid valve

Abstract

A valve may include an inlet, an outlet, and a plunger located at least partially within a central passage of the valve, where the plunger is movable between an open state and a closed state, and where the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet when the plunger is in the open state, and where the plunger prevents fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet when the plunger is in the closed state. A solenoid may have a winding that surrounds the central passage of the valve and at least partially surrounds the plunger. The plunger may have a magnetizable material that experiences a linear force extending along the central passage of the valve when the winding of the solenoid receives a current.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A valve, comprising:
 an inlet;   an outlet;   a plunger located at least partially within a central passage of the valve, wherein the plunger is movable between an open state and a closed state, and wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet when the plunger is in the open state, and wherein the plunger prevents fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet when the plunger is in the closed state; and   a solenoid having a winding that surrounds the central passage of the valve and at least partially surrounds the plunger, and wherein the solenoid is configured to move the plunger between the open state and the closed state.   
     
     
         2 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein a spring is coupled to the plunger and causes the plunger to move into at least one of the open state and the closed state when the solenoid is off. 
     
     
         3 . The valve of  claim 2 , wherein the spring includes a washer spring located between a first spring surface fixed to at least one of the inlet and the outlet and a second spring surface fixed to the plunger. 
     
     
         4 . The valve of  claim 2 , wherein when the solenoid is on, the solenoid overcomes a spring force caused by the spring such that the plunger moves from the open state to the closed state. 
     
     
         5 . The valve of  claim 2 , wherein the solenoid is on, the solenoid overcomes a spring force caused by the spring such that the plunger moves from the closed state to the open state. 
     
     
         6 . The valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a compliant seal and a seat surface for contacting the compliant seal, wherein the compliant seal is secured to the plunger and wherein the seat surface is fixed relative to at least one of the inlet and the outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The valve of  claim 6 , wherein a pin secures the compliant seal to the plunger. 
     
     
         8 . The valve of  claim 1 , further comprising a compliant seal and a seat surface for contacting the compliant seal, wherein the seat surface is fixed relative to the plunger and wherein the plunger is moveable relative to the compliant seal. 
     
     
         9 . The valve of  claim 1 , wherein the plunger includes an outer plunger body and a plunger core, wherein the outer plunger body at least partially surrounds the plunger core, and wherein at least one channel is located between the outer plunger body and the plunger core. 
     
     
         10 . The valve of  claim 9 , wherein the outer plunger body includes a magnetizable material that experiences a linear force when the winding of the solenoid receives a current. 
     
     
         11 . The valve of  claim 9 , wherein the plunger core includes a conical structure having a relatively small diameter on a side closer to the inlet. 
     
     
         12 . A valve, comprising:
 an inlet;   an outlet;   a plunger located at least partially within a central passage of the valve, wherein the plunger is movable between an open state and a closed state, and wherein the inlet is in fluid communication with the outlet when the plunger is in the open state, and wherein the plunger prevents fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet when the plunger is in the closed state; and   a solenoid having a winding that surrounds the central passage of the valve and at least partially surrounds the plunger,   wherein the plunger includes a magnetizable material that experiences a linear force extending along the central passage of the valve when the winding of the solenoid receives a current.   
     
     
         13 . The valve of  claim 12 , wherein a spring is coupled to the plunger and causes the plunger to move into at least one of the open state and the closed state when the solenoid is off. 
     
     
         14 . The valve of  claim 13 , wherein the spring includes a washer spring located between a first spring surface fixed to at least one of the inlet and the outlet and a second spring surface fixed to the plunger. 
     
     
         15 . The valve of  claim 13 , wherein when the solenoid is on, the solenoid overcomes a spring force caused by the spring such that the plunger moves from the open state to the closed state. 
     
     
         16 . The valve of  claim 13 , wherein the solenoid is on, the solenoid overcomes a spring force caused by the spring such that the plunger moves from the closed state to the open state. 
     
     
         17 . The valve of  claim 12 , further comprising a compliant seal and a seat surface for contacting the compliant seal, wherein the compliant seal is secured to the plunger and wherein the seat surface is fixed relative to at least one of the inlet and the outlet. 
     
     
         18 . A plunger for a valve, comprising:
 an outer body portion including a magnetizable material; and   a plunger core configured to move within a central passage of a valve between an open state and a closed state,   wherein the plunger core is fixed relative to the outer body portion.   
     
     
         19 . The plunger of  claim 18 , wherein the outer plunger body at least partially surrounds the plunger core, and wherein at least one channel is located between the outer body portion and the plunger core. 
     
     
         20 . The plunger of  claim 18 , wherein the plunger core is secured to a compliant seal that contacts a seat surface of a valve body when the plunger is in the closed state.